Seven Big Ten stars were named to the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 watch list, released Monday. Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky, the media’s Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, headlines the list that also includes teammate Sam Dekker. See the full list of Big Ten players at the bottom of this post. Here, I want to consider the biggest Big Ten snubs, the players who could play their way into the race when the list is cut down to 25 in January. 1. D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State. A freshman, sure, but he’s the go-to guy on a contender. 2. Denzel

The 2014 NBA Draft is hardly in the rearview mirror, but now it’s time to take a super-early look at the Big Ten’s top 2015 draft prospects. Who is the top prospect? BTN analysts Stephen Bardo and Shon Morris have different answers. See Bardo and Morris’ top 5 2015 prospects in this post. [ MORE: Seven former Big Ten stars selected in 2014 NBA Draft ] STEPHEN BARDO 1. Caris LeVert, Michigan. Big guard who can play three positions, including point guard. Ability to shoot, pass, break down defenders off bounce, rebound, and defend makes him a first-round lock. 2.

It’s official: A.J. Hammons will return to Purdue for his junior season. Let the celebration along State Street begin. “I’ve decided to stay and continue my education here at Purdue, and there are a lot of goals I still want to accomplish with my teammates on the court,” Hammons said in a statement. “First and foremost, we want to get back to the postseason and compete for a Big Ten title. I feel like we owe our fans some better basketball. Purdue is a special place with a lot of great people and I’m excited to continue my education here

Three Big Ten players have announced they are going pro, including Indiana’s Noah Vonleh, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Ohio State’s LaQuinton Ross. Other Big Ten stars have a decision looming, and the deadline is April 27. Who will stay, and who will go? I asked NBA draft analyst Ed Isaacson for his Big Ten draft thoughts. [ MORE: Tom Dienhart offers his Big Ten NBA draft predictions ] BTN.com: What do you think of LaQuinton Ross and Noah Vonleh’s decisions to leave for the NBA? Ed Isaacson: Neither is ready, but both could go to situations

The Badgers took care of business last night. Now, Michigan and Michigan State take center stage in the Sweet 16. The Wolverines battle No. 11 Tennessee, while the Spartans take on No. 1 Virginia. Michigan has a tough task playing the Vols, who are outplaying that No. 11 seed. This is a hot team, going 8-1 since Feb. 26. The X-factor for Michigan? Oh, that’s easy: It’s Glenn Robinson III, who is playing against one of his dad’s best buddies in Zo Martin. In the MSU game, watch the clash between Keith Appling and London Perrantes. This could be the

Watch a conference enough, and you can’t help but notice that every team has a common theme that gets mentioned in every broadcast. Chances are, you know your team’s topic of conversation. But what about the rest of the Big Ten teams? Here’s my recurring subject for every Big Ten team. Illinois. Bruce Weber didn’t recruit Champaign native Rayvonte Rice. Indiana. Yogi Ferrell has a new role now that Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller are in the NBA. Iowa. Depth! Michigan. Tie: Nik Stauskas isn’t just a shooter. And, the Wolverines are without preseason All-America Mitch McGary. Michigan State. Injuries!

The term “posterize” has become popular among some of the top dunkers in the Big Ten this season. But of all the great “posterizing” dunks we have seen this year, A.J. Hammons’ dunk over Nik Stauskas on Thursday night may top the list. Hammons took a pass from teammate Kendall Stephens and threw down an emphatic two-handed dunk right over Stauskas. Watch it in this post. Posters on sale in the lobby! WATCH Purdue big man A.J. Hammons POSTERIZE Nik Stauskas with this dunk @BoilerBall – http://t.co/k5YHB14Xx8 — Purdue on BTN (@BTN_Purdue) January 31, 2014 Here’s a look at some

The college basketball season is just past the midway point, and the Big Ten picture is beginning to take shape. With five teams ranked in the latest polls, it’s clear the Big Ten is, once again, one of the nation’s elite conferences. The conference’s terrific star players have a lot to do with the Big Ten’s standing. But what about the players who aren’t household names, the all-important role players or glue guys who better their respective teams? Here is a list of the most pivotal player for every Big Ten hoops team, listed in order of the Big Ten